Howard County Happenings

Sellers – Still sitting on the sidelines, thinking about selling your home and buying something bigger? Listen carefully, act quickly! Barbara Corcoran, on December 6, 2012, said: “Right now, if you are upgrading to a bigger house, even if you’re selling at 10% off, you buy your new house at 10% ...

“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible…for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.” Judge Learned Hand This opinion refers to federal income tax but the logic and spirit can easily be applied to any tax including property tax. Most prop...

Looking for Howard County MD good investments?  Here’s your Wednesday Weekly Value Alert!  Have questions?  Need more information?  I’m just a call away! Click here for link:  Investor Wednesday Weekly Values 2 29 2012 Happy Househunting! Best regards, Gretchen

This is a truly charming 6.11 acre lot with a cozy comfortable environmentally-friendly home, complete with pathways leading down through the trees and connecting with Benson Branch Park. Bring your horses or your walking shoes and enjoy nature to your hearts' content in western Howard County!  F...

“It’s not far, if you know the way.” Maybe it is an obvious statement but there are some definite steps that will improve your success in buying a home in today’s market. Know your credit score – the best mortgage rates are available to borrowers with the highest scores. Unless you know what your...

What do your neighbors, the Joneses, have?  Or the listing down the street or around the block?  The recent neighborhood comps?  If you don’t know, check with your Realtor.  Buyers will be looking at your house and at the other active listings, and will naturally compare them.  Appraisers will lo...

Well, Here they are, the May 2011 County Housing Stats for Maryland. Typically, six months' inventory is considered the breakeven point, between a buyers' market (over 6 months inventory actively available) and a sellers' market (under 6 months inventory actively available.) The highest inventori...

Howard County Home Sellers – The 5 Best Uses of Your Time and Dollars - #4 – Walls and Floors (Cost: Low; Return: High) Remove/Repaint/Replace:  Remove wallpaper; Repaint walls; Replace carpet Have wallpaper?  I’ll bet you loved it when you first selected it and put it up; you may still love it. ...

Howard County Home Sellers – The 5 Best Uses of Your Time and Dollars - #3 – Curb Appeal (Cost: Low; Return: High) Curb Appeal:  You knew it was coming, didn’t you?  Howard County Home Sellers should know that curb appeal matters.  I always let my buyers know that it’ll be very helpful to them to...

Howard County Home Sellers – The 5 Best Uses of Your Time and Dollars - #2 – Cleaning (Cost: $0; Return: High) What would Martha Stewart do?  Clean and Organize!  Or as I like to tell my Howard County Home Sellers, “You need to Martha Stewartize this linen closet.”  Clean:  Windows:  Wash inside ...